Eight people who pocketed millions in unpaid taxes have been sentenced.
A criminal group created several fake labour supply companies to keep VAT payments that should have been paid to HMRC. They also kept tax deductions from subcontractors that were meant to be paid under the Construction Industry Scheme (CIS) with an estimated loss of £22 million.
Terry Mordecai, Dean Remfry, Billy Kinsella and Dean Simmonds agreed to put their companies’ payrolls through businesses set up by the Organised Crime Group (OCG).
The OCG kept the VAT and other taxes owed to HMRC, while the four men received a percentage of the withheld VAT, delivered to them by cash couriers.
Mordecai, along with Michael O’Sullivan also introduced other companies to the OCG and received a cut of the VAT withheld from the businesses. Mordecai benefited more than £238,000 and O’Sullivan more than £42,000.
All but Remfry pleaded guilty to cheating the public revenue and acquiring criminal property. He was found guilty following a trial.
Other men involved in the fraud included Mark Ives, who provided his identity to front OCG payroll companies, opened bank accounts for those companies and received cash and bank transfers from the withheld VAT. He pocketed more than £218,000.
Mason Bonura, worked in the OCG office administering the payroll for the companies using their services. He acted as a cash courier and delivered cash to company directors, including Mordecai, from the withheld VAT and other taxes. He received cash and bank transfers from the OCG for his role totalling £108,000.
Christopher Denton pocketed £72,000 after he acted as a cash courier for the OCG and delivered money to company directors, all from the withheld VAT.
They pleaded guilty to participating in the activities of an OCG and transferring criminal property. During hearings at Southwark Crown Court on 12th and 13th March 2026, they received the following sentences.
- Terry Mordecai, 45, from Harlow Road, London was jailed to two years and six months. He was disqualified from being a company director for six years.
- Dean Remfry, 52, from Rushmore Hill, Sevenoaks was jailed for two years and six months and was disqualified from being a company director for six years.
- Michael O’Sullivan, 50, from London Road Essex, was jailed for two years and two months. He was disqualified from being a company director for six years.
- Billy Kinsella, 36, from Braeburn Way, Essex was jailed for one year and nine months, suspended for one year.
- Dean Simmonds, 53, from Ferryhall Lane, Rayne, Essex was given an 18 month community order.
- Mark Ives, 47, from of Kings Close, Crayford was sentenced to 24 months’ imprisonment suspended for two years.
- Mason Bonura, 29, from Springfields, Hertfordshire, was sentenced to 24 months’ imprisonment suspended for 18 months.
- Christopher Denton, 35 from Cirrus Crescent, Gravesend was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment suspended for two years.
Investigating officer Detective Constable Dameon Shaw said ‘These individuals knowingly played their part in a scheme designed to divert VAT and CIS payments away from HMRC and into their own pockets.Today’s sentences make it clear that this kind of behaviour will not go unchallenged.’
